Chapter 288: Time Flow Rate

Chapter 288: Time Flow Rate

After finishing the letter, he injected mana into the parchment.

The paper immediately folded itself into an intricate origami crane, flapping its wings as it soared out the window, heading toward the mailbox.

With these formalities handled, Luo En finally had time to settle down and carefully study the Lance Experiment Notes he had acquired.

Though merely a replica, the notebook was exquisitely crafted. Each page bore a unique mana imprint, as if preserving some fragment of the original author’s spiritual essence.

The cover’s illustration depicted a semi-transparent orb floating inside a beaker. As the light shifted, the orb’s depth continuously changed, like a living creature breathing softly.

The first page contained a brief self-written preface. The handwriting was messy yet forceful, as though the author’s emotions could be felt through the ink:

"Life, that eternal enigma, is both fragile and resilient. We strive to understand it, to modify it, yet often forget to respect its innate laws and essence. These notes record not only my triumphs but also my failures and reflections. May future seekers glimpse a corner of life’s mysteries through them, and always remember—that the true modifier is not a conqueror of life, but a humble student."

—Lance Huit

Turning past the first page, Luo En’s gaze was immediately drawn to the deep red warning text within.

"Abyss Formulation Experiment Log, recorded by Lance Huit.

Warning: This notebook contains records of Abyss experiments. All contents are for reference only. Do not attempt to recreate them without proper safeguards."

Beneath the warning was Lance’s personal seal—a ring-shaped symbol formed by three intertwined serpents, representing his famed "Three Cycle" theory and his authority as a Truth Pavilion overseer.

The following content was a chronological research log detailing Lance’s journey from initial conceptualization to final success.

"Eternal Calendar, Year 12876.

Today marks the initiation of the 'Fusion Life' plan. Conventional bloodline modification and formulation methods remain limited by the inherent acceptance thresholds of biological organisms, preventing fundamental breakthroughs. However, if we could create a completely new lifeform, redefining the essence of life’s cellular structure and mana circulation system, we might achieve unprecedented progress. First step: locate a sufficiently malleable foundational lifeform."

Luo En continued reading. The notes meticulously documented how the then-Dusk Sun Rankmage Lance had searched for suitable foundational organisms through various means. Eventually, he acquired a unique slime creature from an Archmage during an interdimensional world-development project. This organism lacked a fixed form, could freely alter its appearance, and possessed extraordinary environmental adaptation capabilities.

"Eternal Calendar, Year 12927.

After years of domestication and experimentation, the 'Membrane Phagoplasm' has achieved stable existence in our world. However, its assimilation capacity is excessively strong, consuming nearly all biological tissues it contacts. This is both an advantage and a challenge. Next step: expose it to Abyss Layer Three for brief mana saturation, hoping to guide its traits toward the intended direction."

Lance’s notes included detailed descriptions of the Abyss’s tiered structure. Beginning from Layer Three, "Black Sand Wasteland", the flow of time diverged significantly from the outside world:

"Layer Three 'Black Sand Wasteland': Reality begins to twist noticeably. One internal day equals approximately three external days. Mutation rates among organisms accelerate dramatically, with directional changes influenced by the environment’s 'will.' Interestingly, the black sands themselves seem to possess a collective consciousness, subtly steering mutation trajectories within their range."

"Layer Four 'Twisted Jungle': Reality rules loosen extensively. Time flow twists further—1 internal day ≈ 7 external days. Organisms undergo fundamental mutations here, potentially altering their entire biological classification. Plants may transform into animals, animals may take root and sprout. Remarkably, most maintain functional viability during these changes, evolving gradually rather than collapsing from abrupt mutations."

...

"Layer Six and below: Extremely difficult to reach and return from. Limited observations suggest these Abyss regions operate under conceptual, rather than physical, laws. Time flow may accelerate dozens of times or more—1 internal day could mean months passing externally. Additionally, the environment begins twisting biological 'concepts.' For example, the concept of 'bird' might morph into 'a creature capable of flight and underwater respiration,' with the organism automatically reshaping itself accordingly."

"This time flow disparity is both the Abyss’s gift and one of its curses."

Gift? Curse? Luo En felt a chill as he turned the page:

"The Abyss serves as an unparalleled experimental site. Meditation or other transcendental cultivation here gains time flow multiplier effects. From Layer Six onward, these multipliers become terrifyingly potent. While accelerated time doesn’t consume one’s lifespan, the cost remains severe. The Abyss curse intensifies with each time flow transformation, leading to irreversible twists. I once witnessed an explorer returning from below Layer Four via transit device—upon surfacing, they were instantly aberrated into a monstrous form by the accumulated curse..."

"Thus, each time flow shift demands exceptional caution. Best to return gradually, allowing transitional periods for one’s body."

Luo En shuddered at this revelation—decades of accumulated corruption erupting instantaneously. Yet despite this, countless explorers still threw themselves into the Abyss, testament to its allure. The greatest advantage remained: while time accelerated, one’s lifespan remained unaffected. Individuals like Kelinna, Maxim, and Reynolds had outpaced their peers through successful expeditions alone.

The notes continued detailing Lance’s deeper Abyss expeditions with the Membrane Phagoplasm, exposing it to special environments to induce mutations.

"To resolve certain issues, I introduced the Membrane Phagoplasm to Abyss Layer Four for modification experiments. Under this twisted environment’s pressure, it gradually developed self-stabilizing capabilities, maintaining structural integrity while absorbing external mana. However, true breakthrough came unexpectedly. When fusing this improved Phagoplasm with an Abyss-native myxomycete chimera, they didn’t repel each other as expected. Instead, they fused into an entirely new lifeform—the original prototype of the 'Autophagic Slime Mold'..."

Luo En skimmed the pages summarizing the slime mold’s traits and experiments—material he already understood. Then, a new conceptualization in Lance’s notes captured his full attention:

"Following the slime mold project’s success, I began planning my next objective—creating a true 'Vitality Bloodline Harmony Medium.' Unlike the slime mold’s passive bloodline manifestation, this medium would actively participate in bloodline harmonization, automatically correcting mana flow imbalances to drastically improve formulation success rates and limits. Theoretically, if realized, it would revolutionize bloodline formulation methods, enabling even inexperienced novices to accomplish relatively complex formulations. More importantly, it might offer new possibilities for previously deemed-impossible bloodline fusions. I call this technology the 'Harmony Key.' While the preliminary theoretical framework is complete, practical creation faces numerous technical barriers. Foremost is finding a foundational lifeform with extreme adaptability and self-restructuring capabilities. The Phantom King suggested using certain special organisms from her Domain as foundations—beings naturally possessing form variability and high adaptability."

As Luo En flipped further, the tone grew subtly more cautious and somber.

"Eternal Calendar, Year 13782. Trouble arrives. Whenever I immerse myself in deep research, I feel an icy gaze piercing my soul through dimensional barriers. I suspect it is... 'Him.'"

...

"The curse has taken effect. I can feel my vitality draining away, drop by drop. Even the most skilled healing mages are helpless—top-tier healing spells merely slow the curse’s spread but cannot eradicate it. According to the Phantom King, this is an ancient foreign curse that gradually erodes the victim’s spirit core until their soul dissipates completely. Most tragically, I know my remaining days are few, yet so many research plans remain unfinished."

The following pages recorded Lance’s relentless work in his final days, striving to complete as much research as possible within his limited time. He meticulously documented further improvements to the Autophagic Slime Mold and a series of unfinished conceptualizations.

"Eternal Calendar, Year 14001. Time is nearly exhausted. I must make my choice."

Luo En stared at the notes, his mind reeling from the implications. Lance’s conceptual frameworks were far more radical and expansive than he’d anticipated—especially the "Consciousness Archiving" theory. The idea of permanently preserving consciousness could permanently solve the soul decay that even Lich Kings and Demon Gods struggled against.

The final pages contained Lance’s last testament, written as his life dwindled away:

"Eternal Calendar Year 14005.
The flame of life flickers desperately. This will be my final record.
My research has reached the limits of what’s currently possible, yet countless concepts and dreams remain unfinished. Should any future soul truly understand and inherit my vision, completing what I could not, they may use these notes to journey to the ‘Fairyland.’
Seek out my most respected friend, the ‘Phantom King,’ and claim the remnants of my Phantom Husk.
May the light of knowledge never fade.
—Lance Huit, on the final day of his life"

The handwriting had grown shakier and more erratic toward the end, betraying his physical decline. Yet even in death’s shadow, Lance’s passion for discovery remained undimmed.

Luo En closed the notebook, a complex storm of emotions churning within him. Lance’s relentless pursuit of knowledge, his defiance of mortality itself—this legacy had left an indelible mark.

"The ‘Harmony Key’ concept offers practical avenues worth exploring", he mused, eyes gleaming with calculation. "But Soul Resonance and Consciousness Archiving? Entirely premature. Not until I become an Ancient Alchemist at least."

Still, Lance’s notes weren’t merely theoretical. For Luo En’s current stage, the most valuable section detailed the proper cultivation of "Autophagic Slime Mold." Lance emphasized that any serious modifier aspiring to master formulation must begin by nurturing their own unique strain.

As Luo En cross-referenced Lance’s insights with his own knowledge, particularly regarding the Abyss’s layered structures and the time dilation effects between them, new realizations crystallized. Lance’s observations on how Abyssal environments influenced biological mutations provided critical clarity to lingering questions.

Hours dissolved as Luo En immersed himself in these concepts. His understanding of bloodline formulation surged forward, bolstered by Lance’s theories on mana balance and self-adaptive adjustments.

【Bloodline Shaping (Mastery) Experience Points +1】
【Bloodline Shaping (Mastery) Experience Points +1】
【Bloodline Shaping (Mastery) Experience Points +1】

Only when the last lamplight outside extinguished did Luo En finally set his notes aside. The interwoven threads of Abyssal time anomalies, soul-level formulation possibilities, and the Phantom King’s enigmatic role lingered in his mind.

"Tomorrow holds too much to do", he murmured, slipping into meditation.

——————

Golden morning light filtered through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm glow. Luo En had long since ended his meditation, now seated at his desk reviewing last night’s fragmented ideas.

A crystal orb hovered in his hands, its surface shimmering with a mana-infused film displaying his notes. Central Lands’ technology made this spectral record-keeping vastly superior to parchment.

"Lance’s Soul Resonance Theory…" His gaze sharpened as the crystal revealed Lance’s core principles: establishing specialized mana channels between operator and subject to directly perceive—and manipulate—the soul’s structure itself.

This would shatter current bloodline formulation limitations, enabling pure-blood transformations and even repairing severe bloodline corruption.

"This aligns with my Furnace Conceptualization", he realized. The Furnace aimed to create a self-contained structure that could absorb, transform, and purge contaminants while recycling purified mana. Though their objectives differed, both systems operated on similar soul-level principles.

"Perhaps all soul research converges on a fundamental truth", he pondered. Yet his own contamination levels remained manageable—for now. With the Boon’s replenishment and his pocket watch’s Reset Ability, he had at least a year’s breathing room.

First, he needed to refine his simulation constructs and attempt enchantment mastery to unlock new professions.

As he set the crystal down, Ai Lan’s knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Master, breakfast is ready."

The meal showcased Central Lands’ culinary bounty—mana-rich fruits and specially cultivated meats far surpassing Black Mist Jungle fare. Ai Lan stood by, her jade-green form glowing in the morning light, while Daire hovered near her bowl, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Master’s research progressing smoothly?" the tree spirit asked gently.

Luo En nodded, tossing a morsel to the Little Siren. "Some progress."

Ai Lan understood his brevity was not dismissal, but focus. "Regarding the Autophagic Slime Mold cultivation in Lance’s notes…" he added between bites. "Check if the Crystal Spire’s mentor channels offer direct purchases for required materials."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end